‘Never thought’ - £12m Tottenham Hotspur departure seals Premier League return after summer release

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace player Andros Townsend has signed a short-term deal with Luton Town following his summer release from Everton.

The 32-year-old has penned a short-term contract until January after leaving Goodison Park as a free agent at the end of the 2022-23 season. Townsend spent time with Burnley over the summer but a permanent move failed to materialise.

The winger came through the academy at Spurs and spent seven years at White Hart Lane before being signed by Newcastle United for £12m in January 2016. He spent just six months at St James’ Park as Crystal Palace triggered his £13m release clause in the summer of 2016. After five years at Selhurst Park, he made the move to Merseyside with Everton.

Of his move to Luton he said: “I feel like it’s a good fit and these last couple of weeks have been good for both parties. I think it had to be right and I feel over the last two weeks we’ve had a look at each other and done that. I’ve seen where I can help this team and on the flipside the manager has seen where I can help – whether that’s on the pitch, in the dressing room or on the training field – with my enthusiasm and experience.

“Plus, Luton are my local team – I live 20-25 minutes away so I’ve kept my eye on their progress and watching the Championship play-off final and see them win promotion was great for the club. I never thought I’d pull on the Luton shirt, so it’s a huge honour to play again in the Premier League for this club, and hopefully get help this club get as many points as we can and see where it takes us.”

Luton manager Rob Edwards added: “Andros has undoubted Premier League quality, which he has shown in this league and on the international stage. Of course, he has had a difficult period with injury through no fault of his own – and we wouldn’t be able to sign him if he’d had played in the last 18 months.

“However, we’re in a position to help each other: he can come in and give everything, bring out those technical qualities to help us and we can give him a platform to show everyone what he’s all about. He adds more competition at the top end of the pitch – an area we know at this level you need to come out on top in that battle. He’s also got that bit of magic and hopefully we can get the most out of him.

“He’s been brilliant and his attitude has been phenomenal. He’s a humble, hard-working individual that we will benefit from having at the training ground on a weekly basis. Young players are going to look up to him and think ‘they are the standards I need to be at’. He’s been impeccable.

“On the playing side, we want him to affect what we’re doing but we’re not going to put pressure on him. We won’t ask for too much too soon. He’s fit, naturally fit. But then there’s being Premier League fit and being able to come on and affect games. So the next step will be a plan for that. But we’re delighted to have him. We hope he can make a positive impact – and we don’t see why he won’t.”